~*~

I walk into the ER, probably looking worse than I had left last night. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep. And it was completely evident. I walked into the ER, hoping to explain to Abby why I had reacted the way I did. I just kept on thinking about it all. Her, and Bryce. And just everything. I've never felt like this about anyone. It's a great feeling and a scary feeling at the same time. It was so complicated. I could never explain to her how I felt about her. I wish I could because it would probably make everything a lot easier. I walk into the lounge, and find her and Bryce sitting at the table, discussing something. I felt the awkwardness as soon as I walked in, but I still tried to play it calm, for Bryce's sake. I threw my stuff into my locker, and headed over to the table.

"Bryce, can you give me and your mother a minute?"

He looked up at me and gave me that crazy little smile.

"Would you like me to lock the do.."

We both cut him off at the same time.

"Bryce, go."

Our voices probably came out a bit more harsh than we had originally intended, and he noticed it too. He looked at me and gave me this little snicker. I would have to talk to him later. To explain this all. But right now I needed to talk to Abby. I watched the door shut and I started to pace a little.

"Abby, I'm sorry."

She looked up at me, giving me this gaze that said 'I knew you weren't gonna hang around'.

"I'm sorry for leaving last night. I shouldn't have. It's just . . . I don't know... It's so hard to explain.."

I saw her relax a little, but she was still sitting on the edge of her seat.

"I mean, I'm drawn to you. I can't stop thinking about you. And I don't know why I acted the way I did. Maybe it's because I knew I would end up falling in love with you, and I didn't want to get hurt . . . "

I kept on rambling. I couldn't stop. When I start, it's a war to stop me.

"You . . . You are just so amazing, and beautiful . . . and smart . . . and I never thought I even had a chance . . . But I know why I left last night. I was scared. I was scared of losing you. Of doing something wrong. Of hurting you . . . And I guess I messed everything up by leaving . . . "

Okay. I was done. That was unbelievably draining. And painful. And hard. But it felt so right. I felt her hand on my shoulder, and she moved around until she was in front of me. Her other hand was gently grazing my cheek.

"You are remarkable."

I felt her kiss me, gently at first, then it got a bit stronger. That was all that was going to happen, for a good while. We both knew it. We also wanted each other. But it would be better if we took it slowly. I returned her kiss, my hands roaming. Okay so this was going a bit farther than we had both expected. She suddenly broke off the kiss, and straightened herself. She bit her bottom lip seductively, and gave me a small smile. My heart melted. Take me and do whatever you would like.

"Come over for dinner . . . "

I smiled. She was so cute.

"Only if you let me help you cook."

She looked at me, trying not to laugh.

"What?"

I thought it was funny that she was laughing, but I didn't really understand why.

"You and the word cook in the same sentence."

I rolled my eyes at her, I needed a good comeback.

"Who said anything about food?"

She smiled again, and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Can you go talk to Bryce?"

I nodded my head. That was on my list of things to do before I clocked in. I wondered where he went. I started out of the lounge, avoiding Susan's glances. I know I probably had the biggest grin on my face, but that could be from anything. She didn't wear lipstick, so I didn't have to worry about having some bright red lips on my cheeks. Or neck. Or wherever. Why did I have a feeling that this would turn into a huge gossip fest within the next three minutes? I checked the bay, and didn't see him there, so I headed up to the other place he might be: the roof.

I swung the door open, and sure enough, there he stood. He was looking over the edge at the people walking below.

"Hey."

He didn't respond for a while, and then he just looked at me.

"What happened?"

I looked out over the edge, and then back at him.

"What do you mean?"

He gave me one of those looks, and rolled his eyes. The same way Abby does.

"With you... And my mom . . . This morning?"

I sighed a bit, silently thankful that he was asking about Abby. Not about why Richard had been there yesterday. I doubt Bryce even saw him.

"Nothing . . . "

I saw him begin to move a bit away from me.

"You're lying."

I started toward him.

"Bryce . . . "

He looked at me.

"No . . . My mom has been through enough. If . . . If you're just gonna leave her . . . Or hurt her . . . I just. I love her. And I don't want to see her like she was with dad."

I knew he was a bit protective of Abby. And he had reason to be. I mean she was such an extraordinary woman, but she needed that sense of comfort once in a while. And it had been just the two of them for a while. And Bryce had been hurt by Richard. But that didn't change the way I feel for her, or for him.

"Bryce. Listen to me."

He had been trying to get away from me, quickly walking around on the roof. He finally stopped and I moved closer to him.

"What?"

He sort of shot it out at me. Bitter and cold.

"I'm not going to hurt her. I promise. I love her, and you, too much to do that."

He looked at me, and rolled his eyes again. He was trying to be strong, but I knew he was breaking down inside.

"That's the same thing dad said."

I wanted to take away all the pain Bryce was feeling right now. I'd rather feel it than have an innocent little ten year old go through it. If there was anything in the world I could do, I would have. I walked closer to him, cornering him on the roof. I wanted to scream at him that I wasn't like Richard. That I wouldn't leave him. That I would never hurt him, or Abby.

I placed his hand on Bryce's shoulder, sort of forcing him to look up at me.

"I'm not going to leave."

I saw him trying to believe me, then sort of forcing himself to believe me.

"You promise?"

I saw a slight smile breaking though. I reached up and ruffled his hair.

"Yeah, I do."

I reached in, and he gave me a hug, and I just sort made him a silent promise, that everything would be okay. I would make sure it would all be okay.

"So . . . Did you and mom have a...."

I gave him that death stare. Enough. I am not talking about my nonexistent sex life with his mother to him.

"Come on kiddo, let's get back inside. It's freezing."